List of mayors of Newark, New Jersey

Mayor of Newark
Incumbent
Ras Baraka
since July 1, 2014
StyleHis Honor
ResidencePrivate
Term lengthFour years; may serve consecutive terms
Inaugural holderWilliam Halsey
Formation1836
Salary$130,721 in 2015
WebsiteOffice of the Mayor (Official)

The mayor of Newark is the head of the executive branch of government of Newark, New Jersey, United States. The mayor has the duty to enforce the municipal charter and ordinances; prepare the annual budget; appoint deputy mayors, department heads, and aides; and approve or veto ordinances passed by the Municipal Council.

Newark, New Jersey, was founded in 1666 and became a township on October 31, 1693, and granted a Royal charter on April 27, 1713. It was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, and reincorporated as city in 1836.[1][2] The city is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council Plan C form of local government, which became effective as of July 1, 1954, after the voters of the city passed a referendum held on November 3, 1953.[3]

The mayor of Newark is elected for a four-year term. Municipal elections (for mayor and municipal council) are nonpartisan[4] and are held on the 2nd Tuesday in May.[5] Mayor Ras Baraka was first elected in the Newark mayoral election on May 13, 2014.[6]

  1. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 130. Accessed February 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "Newark celebrates 175 years as incorporated city". NJ.com. 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2016-08-30.
  3. ^ 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 125.
  4. ^ Pomper, Gerald M. (1988), Voters, Elections, and Parties: The Practice of Democratic Theory, Transaction Publishers, ISBN 9781412841122
  5. ^ Moszczynski, Joe (September 26, 2010). "N.J. municipalities consider moving non-partisan elections from May to November". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  6. ^ Nix, Naomi (May 14, 2014). "Baraka joins a long list of Newark mayors". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-05-14.